Jnanamati will be visiting the Amida supported projects in India assisting Amita Suvidya, Suando and Sudoshin in their ministry work with local Buddhist communities in the UP/Delhi border areas: Shanti Nagar and Ashok Nagar. Time permitting he will also visit Dharma friends in the Northeast, North Lakhimpur and Guwahati.

Amida in the North East of England

Reverend Kuvalaya is offering Dharma teaching and practice gatherings on the following dates: 14th February, 14th March, 11th April Time: mornings, 10 - 12 Contact Reverend Kuvalaya to ask about the venue, directions and to be added to her contact list :: here The Amida North East group on facebook :: link

Amida Mosaic The sangha gather on Tuesday evenings in London, Ontario, from September through June, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., for sacred practice, sharing, and friendship. For more details check out the web page at www.amidamosaic.com or email Reverend Prajnatara

The Amida MosaicContemplative Practices for Living Well program began this week and will run for five weeks. Participants will be learning a variety of contemplative practices to promote emotional, physical and spiritual well-being in our daily life.

Letting in the Light: A One-Day Retreatwith Guest Facilitator Reverend Susthama Kim, OABSunday, February 1, 2015, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. In all religions, there is a deep intuition of something greater than oneself. In Pureland Buddhism, we centre our practice and our lives around Amida, the Buddha of Infinite Light and Life. This light is infinite in that it has always been there and always will be there; and it is through our afflictions and sufferings that, if acknowledged and accepted, the light can enter into our hearts. Practice being together with our imperfections, letting the light in to make us radiant, just as Amida sees us.

Contemplative Practices for Dying Well Not only are we living longer lives today than ever before, but we are living our lives in a society that worships the appearance of youth and vigour. As a result, there is little opportunity to prepare for the spiritual reality of death and dying until it is thrust upon us. This five-week program is geared to those of us who are interested in learning about the importance of contemplative practices, both for our own dying process and in caring for others who are ill. Mondays 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, starting on Monday, March 23, 2015.

Naikan or Nei Quan is a practice of reflection originally developed in Japan. Many people are born, live and die without ever taking the opportunity to reflect deeply on how they are living their lives, although it is not uncommon that a significant number of us might face such an experience following the diagnosis of a terminal illness or as we approach death.

Many of us find ourselves saying that “life is too busy” and that we find it hard to identify time for serious, quiet reflection. But to fail to look closely at the reality that is available to us is to ignore some of the most profound truths that life can show us.

This retreat, which is one of the five core retreats of the Amida School, is an opportunity to consider such questions through a period of intense contemplation and practice.

Naikan was originally developed by Ishin Yoshimoto, a devout Jodo Shin shu follower. The basic structure he created involves reflecting on our relationship with others using the following three questions:

What have I received?

What have I given in return?

What troubles and difficulties have I caused?

These provide the basic foundation for examining our lives, including reflecting in a structured way on our primary relationships as well as more broadly on our encounters with others, with the universe itself, that one way or another, near or far, support our very existence.

Thus it is not only an exercise in examining our self-attitudes but rather one in which we begin to see how deeply dependent we are. Being in touch with this reality will often lead to a profound sense of gratitude which may in turn have direct and concrete consequences for the nature of our relationships and how we relate to the world.

The retreat is lead by Dharmavidya David Brazier, one of the leading European Dharma teachers of his generation, head of the Amida Order, and president of the International Institute for Zen Therapy. Dharmavidya is the author of a number of books, monographs and articles on Buddhism, psychology and spiritual life. His most recent book is “Buddhism is a Religion, You Can Believe It” published by Woodsmoke Press.*

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My Ordination

I'm an Acharya (a senior teacher) with the Order of Amida Buddha, which is a Pureland Buddhist Order. I'm a minister, teach on-line and hold Pureland Buddhist sangha gatherings in Perth, Scotland. I mainly write about Buddhist matters and share the teachings of the Head of our Order, Dharmavidya David Brazier